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Aguilera, Strong Lead ASU Distance Runners In Final Day Of Iowa State Classic

AMES, Iowa - Junior All-American Lisa Aguilera finished second in the women's 3,000m setting a school record with her NCAA automatic qualifying time, while senior Brandon Strong placed second in the men's mile with an NCAA provisional qualifying time, leading Arizona State's indoor distance squad in the final day of the Iowa State Classic, Saturday.

Aguilera's personal best effort of 9:16.23 was second only to Northern Arizona's Ida Nilsson (9:15.66) in the women's 3,000m, breaking the previous indoor ASU record set by former teammate Kelly MacDonald (9:34.56) in 2000. Aguilera breezed past the NCAA automatic qualifying standard of 9:23.20.

Strong also improved his mark in the ASU record books, with his runner-up finish to Illinois State's Christian Goy (4:03.05) in the men's mile. Although still ranked second all-time in ASU indoor history, Strong improved his best in the mile from 4:05.18 to 4:04.04. Strong was followed by Cheyne Jones, who place 14th in 4:09.65, the fifth-best indoor mile in ASU history.

Senior Nikki Simmons turned in a strong performance in the women's mile, placing seventh with a personal best 4:56.19, also the fifth-fastest indoor mile in school history.Making his ASU debut among 78 competitors in the 400m, sophomore transfer Steve Fitch just missed the NCAA provisional qualifying standard (47.25) with his time of 47.76, the fourth-fastest time of the meet.

Up next, ASU's distance squad will rejoin the rest of the Sun Devil team that today competed at the Mountain T's Invitational for the annual Double Dual with intrastate rivals Arizona and Northern Arizona, Thursday, Feb. 14, in Flagstaff.